In Remembrance

I have been rather slack in my blogging recently mainly because I have been preoccupied with work and functions. I went to Mauritius again last week and spent another 5 more days at the client's site. I had thought the last trip was the last, but it turned out there were still some unfinished business. Luckily for me, the flight there was made more bearable by their new A330 where they have a more beautiful cabin and AVOD. I was upgraded to Business Class from KUL to MRU and got to enjoy their flat bed, though I didn't sleep a wink since it was a day flight.

The hotel too, is a different one from the one I used to stay. Preskil Beach Resort is only 20 minutes from the airport and has at least 5 things better:

1) More TV channels;

2) Larger, newer and cozier rooms;

3) A bigger buffet spread;

4) A nicer scenary of the beach; and most importantly

5) Internet access!

This is extremely valuable to me. I use it to check my emails and to skype with my husband and kids back home. I can do video conferencing with my webcam and we see each other when we talk. Although the wifi is only available at the main lobby and you have to purchase a pre-paid card, it's still worth it.

On the same day that I arrived back to Singapore, I had a "10th Anniversary" dinner gathering with several of my "batch girls" from SIA. It was 19 January 1998 when we started our training as trainee flight stewardesses. By now, there is only a handful still flying, most of whom have already reached the next rank. When we started, most of the girls were fresh from school, some as young as only 19 years old. Now, many are already married and have children. We've lost touch with many of them and couldn't get all to turn up. In the end, it was just 4 of us. Well, we enjoyed the catching up nonetheless. Though there is one person we sorely missed.

Rachel has been one of my best friend in the batch. Because we stayed just two blocks from each other and only 15 minutes from STC, we used to walk to class every morning together. Sometimes her father, a taxi driver, would give his precious daughter a lift and I would get to enjoy a nice cool ride to school as well. Everyday, for 4 months, we'll laugh and joke, study and have tea breaks together. Though we went to separate teams after graduation, we kept in touch and the bond remained strong. Unfortunately one day, Rachel discovered she had a cancerous growth on her breast. It was to be the beginning of a 2 year struggle with the disease. She lost the battle and I lost a cheerful, bubbly friend. She was only 26 years old.

Till today, I think of her sometimes and could still vividly remember her infectious laughter. I often wondered what she will be if she had still been alive. I really feel unjustified for her short life and wondered why God would be so harsh to such a nice girl? If anything, her death has taught me to appreciate my life, cherish the people around me and to count my blessings everyday.

Before we went to dinner that night, we paid a visit to Choa Chu Kang Crematorium to visit our dear friend Rachel. It has taken me 3 years but I'm glad I made the trip. I've always wanted to pay my respects but I've not managed to fulfill that wish until now.

It was for me a night of remembrance.

The Price of Beauty

The price we pay for our crowning glory!

$280 + 4.5hours + eating dinner sitting on the salon chair.

Yesterday, I spent almost 5 hours sitting still while 2, sometimes 3 people hovered around my head, tugging and pulling at my hair, spreading various cream and substances. Occasionally I even had cling wrap spread over my forehead as I sit perspiring under a big helmet that blows out steam. The sight of it is anything but beautiful and there's only one word to describe the feeling - torture!

But that's still considered mild. I once had these cables hanging from a machine and clipped all over my hair using large pegs. It was supposed to be some 'digital perm' and I really did look like a 'Digimon' (Digital Monster).

I really dread such 'hair-raising' situations. But as a woman, this is just one of the many injustice and sufferings we have to go through in the name of 'beauty'. No wonder people say, 'Beauty does not come without a price'.

What a day!

Yesterday was a crazy long day. I woke up about 7.30am to get ready for my training session. It has been some time since I last conducted training. So while I'm pretty excited at standing in front of a class again, the lack of stamina also shows at the end of the half-day session. After all the adrenaline rush has passed, I suddenly felt like a deflated hot air balloon. I was urgent, hungry and tired at the same time. Maybe the past few late nights is showing its effects or simply put, too much of a good life not working full-time...hee hee

I first took care of the first need by rushing to the nearest toilet. After that, I headed for a nice lunch at Coffee Club with Hubby. By the time I reached home at about 4pm, I was ready to crash into bed for a nap. But suddenly, Grandmum (my mum) felt giddy and nauseous. It got so bad that she threw up consecutively and couldn't recover even after lying down for a while.

When Hubby returned from picking up KK from school, he had to piggyback Grandmum to the car and we sent her to the A&E department in Changi General Hospital. There, we wheelchaired her in where the nurses took her blood pressure and performed an ECG on her. When the doctor saw her, she was feeling too giddy to talk so the doctor gave her a shot to calm her giddiness and said she should rest in the observation room until she feels better before checking her again.

Hubby and I waited around, not sure what's next and when the doctor will check on her. It was 7.30pm by the time the doctor came again. By then, Grandmum was feeling better as the medicine took effect. Doctor felt it was the ear that was causing this and advised us to consult her regular ENT doctor for a detailed check. Since Grandmum was feeling better, she was allowed to go home.

What a day!

An End, A Beginning

Happy 2008, everyone! Btw, I've been working on this post since last year, no kidding!


So even though such reflections on the past year should have been done on New Year's Eve, I have no choice but to ask you to bear with me as I recount a little of the year's triumphs and trials.


If 2006 was the year of 'anticipation' - awaiting the arrival of XX, then 2007 was the year of 'decisions'. In 2007, I decided I've had enough of full-time employment. Though it meant leaving a secure job and stable income, I decided to take a leap of faith. There are many reasons for that decision, but mainly I decided that wasn't the way I wanted my life to be. Overall, I'm pleased with my decision and have not looked back since.



Family-wise, Hubby also decided to change to a new job, we decided to employ a full-time domestic maid, and KK decided he did not like morning session classes after all.

KK started 2007 by going to morning session K1, but he couldn't adapt to waking up early. However, he stubbornly refused to agree to a change to the afternoon session as he liked his teacher and classmates. After 3 months' struggle, we changed him to afternoon session regardless. Our life became less stressful immediately.

Well, looking forward, if 2007 was the year of 'decisions', I hope 2008 will be the year we reap the rewards of our decisons. Judging from the events leading up to it, 2008 promises to be a busy year ahead. For the record, I spent the last 2 minutes of 2007 brushing KK's teeth (I missed countdown). 20 minutes later, XX woke up demanding his first bottle of milk in 2008. Our tenant has moved out so today, Hubby is spending his New Year's Day cleaning up the flat while I am babysitting XX now.

Got to go!

Walk, Walk (Videos added)

Walking is such a simple movement that it is taken for granted by us. We just stand up and walk! But for the old folks and babies, walking is a balancing act and a rather challenging set of coordinated movements of the muscles. For the latter, walking represents a brand new dimension of seeing the world.

Looking at XX, besides strength, walking also requires courage. XX could stand up and cruise around holding on to things for support long ago. All he needs to do is to let go of the support and take those first steps on his own. But he has yet to move beyond that and still requires people to hold his hand to walk. He can even stand alone without support, for a few seconds, until he realised that you have let go of him. Then he will quickly try to grab hold of you or squat down. Lack of confidence basically.

Yesterday, XX got a little bolder. I let go of him after he's stood up and slided a little backwards to give him some space to walk towards me. He did it! A little wobbly and almost falling into my arms at the end but he did walk at least 3 steps on his own. Good job! At one point in time, when I was distracted by the TV, XX actually let go of me and walked a few steps away from me on his own. When we realised it and started to cheer him, he realised 'hey, I'm not assisted', panicked and quickly sat down. Hai!

Well, like many things in life, walking can't be rushed. XX needs to feel ready and confident before he will take more steps. All we can do is to encourage him more and wait.

Sleeping Like A Pig

The phrase 'Sleeping Like A Pig' takes on new meaning for KK last night. As I entered my room to sleep, I detected a very strong smell in the room. The children were asleep much earlier and the room was dark, so I turned on the bed light to investigate the source of the foul smell.

I first checked XX, ok, he was dry and sleeping peacefully. Then I turned to KK. I saw vomitus on his pillow, his mattress, his shirt and even the floor. It looked as if he had splurted the brown gooey stuff out to his right, probably during a coughing fit during his sleep. The most horrific thing was, he remained sleeping in the midst of it all, literally sleeping like a pig in a pig sty!

Hubby and I had to make him sit up in order to clean him up and change his clothes. KK was semi-conscious and probably thinking this is all a dream as I wiped his right face, arm and back, which was smeared with vomitus. He would have collapsed back into that stinky pile if I hadn't supported him. The pillow and mattress was so soiled and smelly we decided it couldn't stay in the room that night or it will stink us to death. KK ended up on my bed, and poor Papa had to sleep in the study room.

While the older brother continued his sleep, the younger one, awoken by the lights, whispers and smell of air freshener, couldn't get back to sleep long after everything was over. Eventually, after about 1 hour and at about 3am, we had to give him a bottle of milk before we could finally get some sleep.

The next morning, KK was, as expected, totally oblivious and had not the slightest memory of the mess he created last night.

A Transformed Christmas

How did you celebrate Christmas? In the last decade, the way I celebrated Christmas has evolved. From evangelising at 'Come Celebrate Christmas' and cell group parties, Christmas has transformed into a hectic schedule of gift wrappings and a time of fun for the kids and gatherings with family and friends.

From 22nd Dec, the merrying began. We met up with one of our favourite friend and his family, including 2 kids for dinner at Jacob's Cafe. There, KK and XX has fun dancing to the music of a guitarist playing Christmas songs. (See video below.) It ended with ice-cream and coffee at the Changi Village hotel.

The next evening, we gathered at my sister's place for more feasting of coca cola pork ribs, roast leg of lamb, chicken nuggets and salad including my contribution of spagetti cabonara. There, KK received his 3rd, 4th and 5th Transformers toy (Arcee, Swindle, watch) this Christmas. He had earlier received his 1st two Transformers (Bonecrusher and Landmine). This year is truly a 'Transformers Christmas' for KK.

Christmas Eve, KK woke up with a fever. We had no choice but to leave him at home as we proceeded to Hubby's sister's place. This turned out to be a hilarious evening. My brother-in-law's got a really bubbly and fun family, including a twin sister who's 7 months pregnant. Yet she's still sporting enough to dress up as santa claus (no need for fake tummy) to distribute her gifts. Even her 3 year old son couldn't recognise her! There were strange but meaning-filled gifts for everyone, like a carrot, peanut butter and even a pineapple!

On Christmas day itself, we headed to our long-time friend Melvin's house for another fun-filled evening of games for the children. We must really thank him and his wife for organising this party for the past 2 years. I know KK will have a great time as all his old friends (kids of our 'gang') will be there. This 'gang', we've been friends since uni days, when we were still single. Along the way, we've gotten married and had children. Nowadays, when our kids play, we adults will take this chance to catch up.

As the clock strikes twelve, the gift wrapper tearing will halt and the 'merry christmas' SMSs will stop. For the children and us, we are transformed back to our normal routine. But for KK at least, he'll keep busy transforming his Autobots and Decepticons.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!